Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I will introduce a resolution calling on our members of Congress to adopt the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013. This legislation, offered by Arizona Senator John McCain would allow for the unbundling of cable channels and provide a freedom of choice for consumers in purchasing cable.

My resolution would show that Pennsylvania strongly supports the idea of consumer flexibility and choice when it comes to their cable utilities. This would help send a loud message to Washington that the Commonwealth is tired of being held at the mercy of major cable companies nationwide. This would create a level of deregulation much like other utilities have experienced in the Commonwealth.

The summary of this bill in the United States Senate states, "the Television Consumer Freedom Act of 2013 - Allows multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) (including cable operators, multichannel multipoint distribution services, direct broadcast satellite services, or television receive-only satellite program distributors), except with respect to the minimum contents of programming required for basic tier service, to provide subscribers with any channel of video programming on an a la carte basis.

Defines "a la carte" as offering video programming for wholesale or retail purchase on an individual, per-channel basis rather than as part of a package or tier of video programming.

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to modify the types of programming constituting the minimum contents of basic tier service.

Conditions the availability of the statutory copyright license to an MVPD on the MVPD offering local commercial television stations, and any other channels of video programming under common control with such stations, for purchase by subscribers on an a la carte basis."

If you wish to cosponsor this resolution, please contact my Harrisburg office with any questions.